Antarctica Cruises & Tours

You do not have to be a Scott, Shackleton or Amundsen to visit Antarctica but then it is extremely unlikely that you would be travelling as far as the actual South Pole. However, the Antarctic is accessible by taking a cruise or flying into one of the research centres on the perimeter of the land mass. The experience on Antarctic trips will much more comfortable than it was for the explorers and it will be special. It is said that the Antarctic has a haunting beauty and will almost always exceed expectations.

Just to put the Antarctic into perspective, it is the southernmost continent and the mainland is twice the size of Australia and almost 1.5 times larger than the United States. 98% of it is covered in ice and it contains (believe it or not) 70% of the World’s fresh water. No one country actually owns Antarctica although a few lay claim to owning territories on which they have scientific research centres.

What is Antarctica really? It is a mixture of ice shelves and mountain ranges or, put another way, snow, ice, water and rock. The highest point is at 16,000 feet/4900 metres. It has several volcanic mountains of which Mount Erebus is probably the best known on Antarctic trips. It can only really be visited between November and March when the weather allows access. At this time of the year, it has 24 hours of daylight.

The only permanent inhabitants to be seen here on Antarctic travel are animals which include penguins, fur seals, blue whales and orcas.

Most of the Antarctic cruise ships depart from Ushuaia in the very south of Argentina. Smaller vessels can get closer to the land but all ships provide phenomenal views.

How to Go

Added on to a South America vacation or taken on its own, an Antarctica cruise is an unforgettable adventure. This unique itinerary flies to the ice continent from Punta Arenas, so you can make the most of your time exploring this incredible continent.

A wonderful way to enjoy an “expedition” to Antarctica. Sail from Ushuaia in Argentina and head south on your comfortable cruise ship. Spend time going ashore to this fascinating basically uninhabited landmass apart from the animal and bird life.

Embark on the ultimate adventure to the South Pole. Onboard a research vessel, this Antarctic cruise transports you across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic Peninsula, where you’ll spend four full days hiking to penguin colonies, kayaking alongside whales, and exploring the final continent.

Embark on an epic expedition to the Antarctic Circle. Flying over the Drake Passage to King George Island, you’ll board the Ocean Adventurer and spend a full week voyaging the Antarctic seas, passing by icebergs and whales and venturing to penguin rookeries and frozen landscapes.

Enjoy an in-depth cruise from the tip of South America to Antarctica where you experience the dramatic scenery of icebergs, glaciers and ice fields, visit a research station and see all kinds of local wildlife including whales and penguins.

Follow in the footsteps of Shackleton and Scott by venturing to the world’s southernmost continent. Sail from Argentina across the Drake Passage, cruise south of the Antarctic Circle and set foot on Antarctica, spotting penguins and seals while braving the world’s most daunting and inhospitable climate.

Embark on one of the world’s great adventures by heading to the white continent at the ends of the Earth. As you cross the Drake Passage and explore the frozen landscapes of the Antarctic Peninsula, you’ll encounter all manner of penguins, seals, and whales, and follow in the footsteps of the world’s most illustrious explorers.

Join the world’s most illustrious explorers as you set foot on the white continent and embark on 18 exceptional days of excitement. Revel in the photograph opportunities as you become acquainted with the beauty of the Falkland Islands. Encounter penguins, watch for seals, dolphins, and whales, and spot seabirds flying overhead on this spectacular adventure.

This in-depth Antarctica cruise explores not just the world’s most mysterious continent, but the islands and communities that surround it. Visit the Falklands, South Georgia, and the South Shetlands as you embark on this epic journey.

Added on to a South America vacation or taken on its own, a visit to Antarctica is an unforgettable adventure. Few Antarctic trips however let you stay on land, making this short excursion a truly unique experience.

Explore the southernmost reaches of the planet on this epic Antarctica vacation. Passing from Argentina to New Zealand, you’ll traverse the frozen oceans aboard a purpose-built ice cruiser, make landfall at far-flung locations on the Antarctic Peninsula, and visit remote islands and regions that few explorers ever reach.

Explore Antarctica by land, air, and sea on this expedition to the South Pole. Aboard the M/V Plancius, you’ll follow the path of early explorers as you cross the Drake Passage and explore the Weddell Sea and the Antarctic Peninsula. This stark landscape of icebergs, penguins, and frozen ocean is made for adventure.